Safety release for trawl wires



Jan. 28, 1964 1.. H. BLOUNT 3,119,601

SAFETY RELEASE FOR TRAWL WIRES Filed Jan. 14, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.4

INVENTOR K6 LUTHER H. BLOUNT ATTORNEYS Jan. 28, 1964 H. BLOUNT 3,

I SAFETY RELEASE FOR TRAWL WIRES Filed Jan. 14, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LUTHER H. BLOUNT fiww 9 07 1441 ATTORNEYS United States Patent M 3,119,601 SAFETY RELEASE FOR TRAWL WIRES Luther H. Blount, Poppasquash Road, Bristol, RJ. Filed Jan. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 251,094

Claims. (Cl. 254137) This invention relates to a trawler and more particularly to the equipment for handling the wire which leads from the vesel out to the net.

In order to maintain maneuverability of the vessel, the method used for trawling is usually known as side trawl fishing in which the trawl wires which extend from both ends of the net are handled on the same side of the vessel, the wire from one end of the net being led toa forward gallows and the wire from the other end of the net being led to an aft gallows, all as described in greater detail in pamphlet FL 445 entitled Operation of North Atlantic Type Otto Trawl Gear published by the U5. Department of the Interior.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide for stern trawling wherein the trawl wires from one end of the net may be led from an aft gallows on one side of the vessel, while the trawl wire from the other end of the net may be led from an aft gallows on the other side of the vessel, and yet should an emergency arise for need if greater maneuverability, such maneuverability may be Another object of this invention is to provide a frame structure which is inoperable during ordinary stern trawl ing but which may be detached from its position and brought into operation should an emergency condition arise.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a frame through which a trawl wire leads, which frame is detachably secured in an inoperative position but which frame may be detached to take over the lead of the trawl wire should occasion require and direct. that lead to a point which will be effective on the maneuverability of the vessel.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a trawler equipped with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the starboard gallows frame on a larger scale illustrating the invention in greater detail;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the frame detached from the gallows;

FIG. 4 is an elevation of the frame; and

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate the maneuvering of the vessel by means of the arrangement which I have provided.

With reference to the drawings, 10 designates generally a trawler which is equipped with port and starboard aft gallows 11 and 12. Each of these gallows has outwardly inclined legs 14 and 15 arranged in a general A shape with a cross piece 16 at its upper end. A block 17 hangs from each of these cross pieces 16 for accommodation of the trawl wire leading from the net. Thus we have trawl wire 18 leading from the net to the starboard gallows block 17 in the gallows 12 and the port trawl 3,119,601 Patented Jan. 28, 1964 wire leading to the block 17 of the port gallows 11. The starboard wire 18 leads to the winch drum 2t], and the port wire leads to the winch drum 21, each through a fair lead such as 22 on deck adjacent the lower portion of the gallows 12 and fair lead 23 adjacent the lower portion of the gallows 11 for directing the trawl wires to the winches.

A frame designated generally 25 (FIG. 3) in the form of a closed loop is provided with a sheave 26 rotatably mounted at one end of the frame, while a thimble 27 about which a cable 28 is secured is located at the other end of the frame. This frame 25 is secured on the outboard side of each of the gallows by some sort of shearable bolts 2?, 31) passing through openings 29' and 30. This frame is so located that the trawl wire either 18 or 18 will pass freely through the center 31 of this frame, and the frame being secured and being sufficiently large so that the block 17 may swing freely therethrough is substantially out of the way and ineffective in normal use of the trawl wires for towing the net. Each cable 28, however, extends forwardly to a point well beyond the center lengthwise of the vessel and passes through a fair lead 35 attached to hit 36 and then to a winch 37 Which is suitably power operated. This winch is sufficiently powerful so that, should occasion require, the shear bolts may be easily sheared off so that the frame may be led forwardly and the trawl wire will engage in the sheave 26.

By the arrangement above described, should it become necessary to turn the vessel which cannot be readily accomplished by reason of the drag on the wires on either side of the stern, an instance of such necessary turning being in case the net became snagged or caught, then it would be merely necessary if a turn to the port were desired to shear the port frame 25 from its position on gallows 11, thereby causing the trawl wire 19 to engage in the sheave 26 as seen in FIG. 6 and then by hauling in on the port cable 28, the trawl wire would be directed forwardly of the center of the ship such as shown in FIG. 7 and at the same time slacking on the trawl wire 18, the ship may be swung effectively to port from the position shown in FIG. 5 to that in FIG. 6 and then to that of FIG. 7, and if further turning is desired after the net is at the side of the boat such as shown in FIG. 7, further maneuvering may be easily acomplished. Of course, if it is desired to turn to starboard, then the starboard frame would be detached from the gallows 12 and slack would be allowed on the port wire 19.

I claim:

1. In a trawler having a gallows and a sheave supported thereby over which the trawl wire passes from outboard inward board to a winch, a frame having an open center with said trawl wire passing therethrough, detachable means to secure the frame to said gallows on the outboard side thereof and means to detach said frame from the gallows and haul the same forward of the gallows causing the frame to engage the trawl wire whereby a turning movement on the trawler is provided.

2. In a trawler having a gallows and a sheave supported thereby over which the trawl wire passes from outboard inward board to a winch, a frame having an open center with said trawl wire passing therethrough, said frame being provided with a sheave to be engaged by the trawl wire, detachable means to secure the frame u to said gallows on the outboard side thereof and means to detach said frame from the gallows and haul the same forward of the gallows causing the sheave of the frame to engage the trawl wire whereby a turning movement on the trawler is provided.

3. In a trawler as in claim 1 wherein the frame is a closed loop.

4. In a trawler as in claim 1 wherein the means to secure the frame to the gallows is shearable bolts.

5. In a trawler as in claim 1 wherein the means to se- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Costa July 28, 1891 Ketcham Nov. 19, 1907 Symonds et al. Dec. 12, 1950 

1. IN A TRAWLER HAVING A GALLOWS AND A SHEAVE SUPPORTED THEREBY OVER WHICH THE TRAWL WIRE PASSES FROM OUTBOARD INWARD BOARD TO A WINCH, A FRAME HAVING AN OPEN CENTER WITH SAID TRAWL WIRE PASSING THERETHROUGH, DETACHABLE MEANS TO SECURE THE FRAME TO SAID GALLOWS ON THE OUTBOARD SIDE THEREOF AND MEANS TO DETACH SAID FRAME FROM THE GALLOWS AND HAUL THE SAME FORWARD OF THE GALLOWS CAUSING THE FRAME TO ENGAGE THE TRAWL WIRE WHEREBY A TURNING MOVEMENT ON THE TRAWLER IS PROVIDED. 